News

Royal Welsh ambassador rides 100 miles across Gwent

QUEEN OF THE CASTLE Hannah Barry, who will be doing a 100 mile sponsored ride on her horse, 'Oscar's Law', to raise money for the Royal Welsh Show, she is the Royal Welsh agricultural society's lady ambassador for the event (9656123)

AN ABERGAVENNY Royal Welsh ambassador is riding 100 miles around Gwent and bringing back the traditional side saddle to raise funds to support the agricultural show.

Hannah Barry, 27, of Union Road East, Abergavenny, is a primary school teacher at Deri View in the town and has been the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society’s Lady Ambassador elect for the past year. She is now on the last day of her four day ride from Manmoel to Monmouthshire Livestock Market, to raise funds for the re-building of the equine facilities at the Royal Welsh Show ground at Builth Wells.

Ms Barry has ridden across Gwent as it is the feature county for the Royal Welsh 2015. The history of the feature county dates back to the show's beginning when the location changed year on year.

Each year a county in Wales in selected to raise funds for a particular project for the Royal Welsh Show.

The teacher started her ride on Sunday from Manmoel to the Whistle Inn in Blaenavon and has visited Big Pit, Raglan Castle and Chepstow Race Course.

She said: "I have been riding two horses, Baringa, my own 16-year-old horse and my uncle's 7-year-old race horse. I have started the ride with the side saddle on Baringa and will finish the last ride to the livestock market on the side saddle.

"I wanted to give the ride an extra challenge, we managed to find a vintage side saddle which we have been training with for some weeks now. Using the side saddle isn't the most comfortable but it's becoming increasingly more popular nowadays."

The Raglan Young Farmer member's ride will finish later today with a celebratory BBQ.

She added: "The ride has been going well so far. The weather on Monday was quite horrendous and the side saddling has been a bit more difficult with the rain but I'm hoping to do some more tomorrow.

"Everyone across the county has been really supportive."

Ms Barry will be helping to organise fundraising events across Gwent for the next year.

She said: "It's a massive honour for me to be lady ambassador elect this year and lady ambassador next year. It's a privilege to have been chosen.